Cleaning device



P 1965 R. OLEARY 3,208,092

CLEANING DEVICE Filed NOV. 18, 1963 United States Patent 3,208,092CLEANING DEVICE Robert L. OLeary, Mendota Heights, Minn. (Box 778,Mendota, Minn.) Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,308 7 Claims. (Cl.15-257) The present invention relates to a device which is used as anaid to the cleaning and maintaining of water closets in a sanitarycondition.

In schools, auditoriums, and other public buildings, those who providejanitorial service normally carry with them a bucket containing a watercloset (or toilet) cleaning mop and various rags and sponges, along withacids, detergents, abrasives, and other chemicals which are used in thecleaning and sanitizing operation. In addition to being a ratherunpleasant task, the danger of splashing oneself with either theunsanitary water from the toilet or the chemical-containing water isomnipresent. Also, in transferring the cleaning mop from the watercloset back to the cleaning bucket, care must be taken to avoid spillageof water onto the surrounding floor area. In particular, care must betaken to avoid spilling acidic solutions on terrazzo and similar floors.

The detergents, acids, and other chemicals are frequently carried in thejanitors pockets, and often times a drop or two of chemical will remainon the outside of the bottle which is placed in the janitors pocket,thus causing damage to his clothing, and acid solution is easilysplashed or dripped from the mop head.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a devicewhich will avoid danger or splashing of solution of the toilet bowlduring the actual cleaning operation and which will avoid thepossibility of dripping solution onto the surrounding floor area whenthe mop is removed from the water closet after cleaning.

It is further an object to provide a device which will accommodate thecontainers for chemicals and other cleaners and do away with the needfor the janitor to carry such articles on his person.

The manner in which the present invention achieves these and otherobjects may be appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate a device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIGURE 1 is a side view, with a portion broken away, of a conventionaltoilet with a presently preferred form of my device in place over thewater closet.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the device.

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of the mop-retaining selfevacuating cup means.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a mop particularily adapted for use with mydevice.

FIGURE 6 is a rear view of the cup means in the open position shown inFIGURE 1, as taken along the lines 66 of FIGURE 2.

In each of the several views like parts are referred to by the samenumerals.

Turning now to FIGURE 1, the toilet 2 comprises a flush tank 4 and awater closet 6. One form of my device 8 is shown in position on thewater closet with downwardly extended legs 10 fitting over the exteriorof the water closet, the legs 10 being attached to splashpreventingmeans 12 which is here illustrated as a fiat cover with a configurationsimilar to that of the top surface of the water closet and having agenerally centrally positioned aperture 14 therein.

Cup means 16 is shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 in closed position, i.e. inaperture closing engagement with at least a portion of thesplash-preventing means which defines the aperture. While it would bepossible to position and 3,268,092 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 fasten thecup means in various locations on either side of the splash-preventingmeans, the arrangement shown and illustrated is particularly preferredbecause as shown in FIGURE 1, upon removal of the mop 24, and/or releaseof the latch means 18, the cup means pivots on the link 20 to fall awayfrom the aperture 14 thereby facilitating the cleaning operation. Easeof cleaning is further enhanced by forming the link 20 into a U-shapedform as shown in FIGURE 6 so that the cup means is free to be moved fromside to side by the mop handle during the cleaning operation.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, cup means 16 may be provided with a notch19 in the sidewall thereof to accornmodate the latch means 18, hereillustrated as a pivoted rod 17. Additionally, the upper-most portion 30of the cup means is notched or otherwise shaped to accept the handle 24of the mop 26, but not to allow the mop-head 28 to pass therethroughupon applying an upward motion to the handle 24, the mop head beingretained by the notch 30. Additionally, the handle 24 may be providedwith a stop 32 in the form of an enlargement or fixed ring which issized so as to be retained in the notch 30 upon application of upwardforce to the handle 24.

In use the janitor may carry the device 8 merely by holding the mophandle 24 which is positioned in the notch 30. Upon placing the deviceover a water closet, disengagement of the latch 18 and simple movementof the handle towards the open portion of the cup means frees the latterso that it falls from aperture-closing engagement with thesplash-preventing means and allows free access to the water closet withthe long handled mop. Acid or cleaner containers 42 and 44 may be keptin pockets or retaining clips 40 and 46, which are shaped to accommodateand removably retain containers of those materials commonly used in thecleaning operation.

After the cleaning operation is completed the mop head is returned tothe cup mean and by rearward and upward movement of the mop handle thecup means is returned to aperture closing engagement, the latch meansthen may be engaged in the notch on the side of the cup means, and thedevice moved to the next water closet.

As a further aid to carrying the device a handle 60 may be provided onthe top of cover 12. Such a handle also makes it possible to use thedevice as a splash shield when cleaning urinals.

Upon repeating the operation at the next water closet, when the cupmeans is released, any solution which has dripped from the mop andaccumulated in the bottom of the cup means is automatically drainedtherefrom. Thus in the form illustrated, the cup may be termed aselfevacuating cup means and this constitutes a distinct advantage ofthe preferred form of the invention.

FIGURE 3 further illustrates a form of the device in which the length ofthe downwardly extending legs v1.0 and the size of the cup means 16 areso selected that upon placing the device on a plane surface 50, thebottom of the cup means rests on the surface and is therebysubstantially prevented from falling away from aperture-closingengagement with the splash-preventing means 12. One advantage of thisarrangement is the fact that latch means 18 may be eliminated, therebysaving on construction costs and making it even easier to use thedevice.

Various materials may be used in constructing my device; moisture andchemical resistance being important considerations. Thus curedelastomers, various plastics such as polymethyl methac-rylate,polyethylene, etc. and metals may be employed as desired.

Splash-preventing means 12 may be other than flat, e.g.

concave if desired, and the legs molded as an integral part of thesplash-preventing means 12.

It will of course 'be apparent that other obvious modifications could bemade in the shape and arrangement of the device here described, andsubstitutions made for the preferred device described. However, itshould be understood that such substitutions or modifications are withinthe spirit and scope of the invention, and that the particular formsillustrated place no limitation thereon except as defined in theappended claims.

What I claim is as follows:

1. A portable device for use in combination with a water closet, saiddevice comprising downwardly extending means for retaining said deviceon said water closet, cover means for preventing Water from splashingfrom said closet attached to said downwardly extending means, saidsplash-preventing means having a central generally circular aperturesubstantially smaller than the top of said Water closet but sufficientlylarge to permit swabbing the inside of said water closet with along-handled swab, and attached to said splash-preventing means, cupmeans for removably retaining said long-handled swab.

2. A portable device for use in combination with a water closet, saiddevice comprising downwardly extending means for retaining said deviceon said water closet, means for preventing Water from splashing fromsaid closet attached to said downwardly extending means, saidsplash-preventing means having a central aperture substantially smallerthan the top of said water closet but sufiiciently large to permitswabbing the inside of said Water closet with a long-handled swab, cupmeans for removably retaining said long-handled swab attached to anunder surface of said splash-preventing means by linkage means, saidlinkage means being so arranged that upward motion imparted to said cupm'eans' brings said cup means into aperture-closing engagement with atleast a portion of the splash-preventing means which defines saidaperture, and upon release of said cup means when positioned on saidwater closet said cup means will fall away from said aperture to allowaccess to the interior of said water closet.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which said linkage means comprises aU-shaped link.

4. A device according to claim 2 having latch means for releasablyretaining said cup means in said apertureclosing engagement with saidsplash-preventing means.

5. A device according to claim 3 having latch means for releasablyretaining said cup means in said apertureclosing engagement with saidsplash-preventing means.

6. A device according to claim 2 in which the length of said downwardlyextending means and the size of said cup means are selected so that uponplacing said device on a plane surface the bottom [of said cup meansrests on said plane surface and is thereby substantially prevented fromfalling away from said aperture-closing engagement with saidsplash-preventing means.

7. A device according to claim 2 in which said cun means isself-evacuating.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 1,138,714 10/62Germany.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

1. A PORTABLE DEVICE FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A WATER CLOSET, SAIDDEVICE COMPRISING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID DEVICEON SAID WATER CLOSET, COVER MEANS FOR PREVENTING WATER FROM SPLASHINGFROM SAID CLOSET ATTACHED TO SAID DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING MEANS, SAIDSPLASH-PREVENTING MEANS HAVING A CENTRAL GENERALLY CIRCULAR APERTURESUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE TOP OF SAID WATER CLOSET BUT SUFFICIENTLYLARGE TO PERMIT SWABBING THE INSIDE OF SAID WATER CLOSET WITH ALONG-HANDLED SWAB, AND ATTACHED TO SAID SPLASH-PREVENTING MEANS, CUPMEANS FOR REMOVABLY RETAINING SAID LONG-HANDLED SWAB.